Riveting machine



MalyY e, `1924.7- 1,493,396 l l rG. L. sKoLFlELmJR l i RIVETING MACHINE May 6, 1924. f 1,493,396

G. l... SKQLFIELD, JR

RIVETING MACHINE Filed 29. 1925 f7 sheets-sheet 2 May s, 1924. y 1,493,396

G. L. SKOLFIELD, JR

RIVETING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2,9, 1923 '7 sheets-sheet 3:

May e 1924.

G. l... sKoLFlELD, JR

RIVETING MACHINE 7 shgets-snet 4 Filed Jan. 29. 1923 4, :LQT

May 6, 1924. n

` G. L. SKOLFIELD, JR

RI VETING MACHIN E Filed Jan. 2Q, 1923 E142 .a-m 56073752. 5212566@ Jr '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Imm May 6 1924. 1,493,396

` G. L. SKOLFELD, JR A RIVETING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29 l192s 7 sheets-sheet e Q( fog; "fr

May 6A, 1924. 1,493,396

G. L. SKOLFIELD, JR

l RIVETING MACHINE v sheets-sheet v Filed Jan. 29

Patented May 6, 1924.

UNirEu stares Geenen` L sKoLfFrnLn, an., F CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

lf EC mvnTINe MACHINE.

Application led January 29, 1923. Serial No. 615,542.

To al? who/11i i may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGEL. SKO'LFIELD, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Riveting Machines, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to certain improvements in riveting machines known as bull riveters.

One object ot my invention is to p-rovide a riveter of this type so that large work can be riveted accurately and quickly.

A further object of the invention to design the riveter so that a carriage can support the article t0 be riveted, the carriage being controlled from a point at the riveting dies.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for moving the carriage longitudinally and for rotating the article to be riveted, which is mounted on the car riage.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for controlling the movement of the riveting dies and the movement of the body of the riveter.

In the accompanying drawings: p

Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved riveting machine, showing a pipe in position to be riveted;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional` view on the line 3 3, Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4 4, Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic side view showing the means for controlling the lower riveting die and the plunger for moving theframe of the riveter on its pivot, and also showing. the means for controlling the rotary movement of the work on the carriage;

ig. 7 is a. diagrammatic view showing the air pipes and the control mechanism 'leading to the air cylinder and the means` Yfor controlling the longitudinal movement of the carriage; Y l y, y

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the frame ofthe riveter in dotted lines and' showing the mechanism in full lines, whichcontrols the movement of thecarriage and the rotation of the Wikg,

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a riveting machine having an upper member 2 anda lower member, 3. The riveting machine'is mounted on a pivot4 carried'by a frame 5 secured tothe foundation 6. Thetwomembers 2 `and 3 are spaced apart to' form a .throat 7 to allow the article to be riveted to be moved into the throat as the riveting progresses. The lowermember 3 Ycarries the cylinder 8, in which is the plunger 9 carrying the movable die 10.` The fixed die 11 is mounted on the upper member 2. On yeach side .of the riveter are rails'12, which are mounted on suitable foundations.v Supported 'by the rails is a carriage 13. This 'carriagey consists of hollow side beams 14 having bearingsl'l for the axles ofthe flanged wheels 16 and 16a that travel onV the rails 12.l The 4two side frames 14 are connected 'at the rear by a cross member 17. It

willv be understood that a clearance space must be allowed betweenthe side members of the carriage to permit the carriage to pass on each side of the lower member 34 of the'riveter. In some instances, the forward ends of thejside members may beconnected bv a detachable cross piece. Mounted on the side trames 14 are vframes 18 -supported at intervals by vblocks 19. These frames are rectangular in cross section. On the frames 18 are base plates 20 on which are adjustablv mounted the bearings 21 for the longitudinal shafts 24. On these shafts are rollers 22 for thecylinder, orl other form, a,

to 'be' riveted. The bearingsv canbe'adjusted towards and Jfrom each other by set screws 23, which are mounted in the lugs o'n-the plate 20. The screws arel connected tothe bearings so that, on turning the screws,ithe

bearings can be moved towards and-ffrom the center of lthe carriage in order thatthey may be adjusted to acconunodatecylinders of diiiferentdiameters.

the blocks 19 may be removed, as in Fig 11.

In Fig. 12 is shown the mechanism arranged to rivet a flat section. In this view, the frames 18 are omitted, the bearings 21 for the longitudinal shafts 24 being located Von wedges-19a resting on the side frames 14.

When the flat sections are extended, the outer portions may be supported on trolleys 73 mounted on rails 74.

In Fig. 12, supporting beams y75 are shown, which rest on the rollers 22 and on rollers 7 6 on the trolleys 73. The section to be riveted is carried by the rails and the rails, with the sections thereon, can be moved laterally by turning the shafts 24. The carriage can be moved longitudinally by operating the mechanism previously described.

In the present instance, at each side of the carriage are centering plates 25, which are mounted in brackets 26 firmly secured to the foundation. The plates are flanged at 27. On the brackets 28, projecting from the frames 14, are two guide wheels 29, which bear upon either side of the flange 27 of the plates 25 and hold the carriage against lateral movement, thus centering the carriage in respect to the riveting dies. In some instances, these plates may be dispensed with.

At the rear end of the carriage 13 is an electric motor 30. This motor drives the' mechanism for moving the carriage and for turning, or moving the work on the carriage.

31 designates a hydraulic variable speed gear of known construction, which controls the mechanism for transmitting power fron the motor to shaft 77 geared to one of the axles 78, Figs. 4 and 5, on which are the wheels 16.

79 designates another hydraulic variable speed gear controlling the mechanism through which power from the motor 30 is transmitted to the longitudinal shafts 24. On a shaft 8() is a bevel pinion 81, which meshes with a bevel wheel 82 of a vertical shaft 83 geared to a transverse shaft 84, which, in turn, is geared to the two longitudinal shafts 24.

The operator occupies aseat 32 secured to the end of the upper member 2 of the riveter, as shown in Fig. 1. Two hand levers 33 and 34, one on each side of the member 2, are connected to the hydraulic speed gears mentioned above, which control the power from the motor 30.

The lever 33 is connected to the speed gear 31 controlling the power to the axle 78. The lever 34 is connected to the speed gear, which controls the power that drives the shaft 24.

The lever 33 is mounted on a short shaft 85 geared to a longitudinal shaft 86 mounted in bearings 87 on the upper member 2 of the riveter, Fig. 8. The shaft 8G is geared to a vertical shaft 88, Fig. 6, which, in turn, is geared to a longitudinal shaft 89 at the base of the riveter. This shaft extends under the carriage and has a telescopic section 89a, which is mounted in bearings on the car riage, and geared to a shaft 90 connected to a short shaft of the speed change gear 79,

as clearly shown in Fig. 4. I/Vhen the lever 33 is operated, the shaft 90 is rotated, imparting movement to the mechanism of the speed change gear, causing the cylinder to rotate on its carrying rollers.

The lever 34 is mounted on the left hand side of the riveter in the present instance and is secured to a short shaft 91, geared to a longitudinal shaft 92, mounted in bearings 93 on the upper member 2 of the riveter. This shaft 92 is geared to a vertical Pshaft 94, which, in turn, is geared to a longitudinal shaft 95 extending under the carriage, Fig. 7. The shaft 95 has a telescopic section 95ZL mounted in bearings on the carriage and is geared to a shaft 96 connected to the mechanism of the speed change gear 31, Fig. 4, so that, when the lever 34jis manipulated, the carriage can be moved longitudinally in either direction.

35 and 36 are foot levers that control the mechanism of the riveter. The lever controls the mechanism for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinder in which the plunger of the lower die is mounted. The lever. 35 controls the mechanism for adjusting the riveter on its pivot 4. The lever-36 is connected by a rod 37 to a lever 38 pivoted at 39 and held yieldingly in position by a spring 40. A rod 41 connects the lever 38 with an arm 42 of affour-way air valve 43. Communicating with this valve is an air supply pipe 44'q which is also vconnected to an air pressure device. Communicating with the valve 43 are two pipes 45 and 46. which communicate with the air cylinder' 47. The pipe 45 communicates with the lower endy of the air cylinder, and the pipe 46 communicates with'the. upper end of the air cylinder, as shown in Fig. 7. The air cylinder 47 is pivoted at 48 and has a plunger attached to a rod 49 yconnected by a pivot pin 50vto a head 51 secured to the' under side of the lower member 3 of the frame of theriveter. Pivoted to the head 51 is a plunger52 extending into a cylinder 53 pivoted at 54 to a bearing on the foundation. Communicating with the bottom of this cylinder is a pipe leading to a hydraulic accumulator 56. The pipe 55 has a branch 57, which communicates with a hand pump 58. lVhile the hand pump is illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood that it may be a power driven pump, if desired. The accumulator balances the overhanging portion et` the riveter. The pivot 4 snugly tits its bearings so that the riveter will remain in the. position to which it is adjusted.

The foot lever 35 is connected by a rod 59, Fig. 6, to a lever 60, which, in turn, is

. connected by a rod 61 to the arm'of` a control operating valve 62. This control valve is connected to a pilot slide valve 63 having a pipe 64 communicating with an lair reserve tanlr. A pressure reducing valve is located in this pipe. i

The valve 63 is connected to the lower end of the riveting cylinder 8 `at the end of the member 3 by a pipe 97 and with the upper end of said cylinder by a pipe 98. lThis is the pull back pipe and the pressure returns the lower die after ithascompressed the rivet, Fig. 6.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: In the present'instance, vthe riveter is shown arranged for riveting sections of large cylinders, or.. pipes. As the carriage is mounted on rails, it is free to moveto and from the riveter. vThe upper member 2 of the riveter extends freely into the/open end of thepipe. The pipe is mounted on the side rollers secured to driven shafts,and mechanism is provided for turning the pipe to bring successive holes in positionjyto receiveh a rivet. The two movementsjust described allow the operator to adjust fthe work accurately and quickly in respect vto lthe fixed riveting head.

The operator is stationed in front-of the' riveting head. In the present instance, a seat 32 is secured to the end of the upper member 2, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The two hand levers 33 and 34C control the movement of the carriage and. the work. The foot levers 35 and 36 are located on either side of themember 2 and are connected,'one to the riveting mechanisnu and one Atothe means for oscillating the riveter about .its pivot 4 toadjust the riveter vertically in respect to the work; Y

In riveting, the operator iirst locates the holes in the work, then drops a rivet ink place, after which the worlr is brought into alignment with the upper die 11. The plunger in the air cylinder 47 is operated to cause the upper die to settle onto the head of the rivet, forcing it into proper position. The plunger 9 is actuated, which causes the ipwr die to compress the rivet, forming a The lower die is retracted and the air cylinder is againopera-ted so as to'raise the I upper die or the riveter clear of the head of the rivet. In tie meanwhile, another rivet has been placed in a hole and the aboveoperation is repeated.

It will be understood that the overhanging portion ot the riveter is balanced by the accumulator 56 and the air cylinderr 4:7 moves the upper die into riveting position, or clear of the rivet. The movement of theaccumulator in one direction limits the upward movement of the riveter and acts as a stop to bring the upper die to a clearance point required. The amount'of clearance can be varied by pumping fluid `into the'f system to raise the accumulator, or allowing fluid to escape vto reduce clearance. "i

Then a -croolred pipe is being riveted, it is necessary to raise, or lower, the machine on itsV pivot. This raising or lowering isv accomplished by allowing a certain amount of fluid to escape from the balancing cylinder 53, or by 'forcing fluid into'the balancing cylinder from the accumulator'. 'If an extended movement is desired, `a hand pump 58 may be used to lift the accumulator.

In some instances, it may be desirable to locate the operatorunder'the work. In this case, the operating mechanism is carriedfby the lower member 3. VVhilecertain mechanism, including the variable changey speed gear, for moving thecarriageV and for turning the rollers is illustrated,jother mechanism may be provided without departing from thev essential features of the-inventon While thelabo've invention is'described as airiveting machine, it will be. understood that punching dies maybe substituted for the riveting dies and the machinefusedfor punching.4 l y '-f Iclaim: f

l. The combination ina riveting machine, of a'frame having upper and lower members spaced apart to form a throat; riveting dies at the ends of said members; a pivotvr for the frame: means lor counterbalancing theframe; and power means, underv the control of thepperator, Afor.v oscillating'the -framc on 'its pivot. f

,2. The combination in a riveting machine, of a iframe having upper'and lower-y members spa'ced' aparttoform a throat; riveting dies at the ends of said members; a pivot for thel frame V meansk for counterbalancing the frame; means, under lthe control of the operator, for oscillating the frame on its pivot; independent means for bringing the holding die onto the rivet; and means for operating the riveting die.

3. The combination in a riveting machine, of a frame having upper and lower members spaced apart to form a throat; riveting dies at` the ends of said members; a pivot on which the frame is mounted; and manually operated means mounted. on one of the memllO bers of the frame near its end for controlling the riveting die and for adjusting the frame to the work.

4:. The combination in a riveting machine, of a pivoted frame having upper and lower members spaced apart to form a throat; a fixed die on one of said members; a cylinder on the other member; a plunger therein; a

riveting die carried by the plunger; .means for admitting fluid to the cylinder for operating the die; an air cylinder; and means connected to the air cylinder and to the frame for oscillating the frame on its pivot; and means for counterbalancing the frame.

5. The combination in a riveting machine; of a pivoted frame having extended upper and lower members spaced apart to form a horizontal throat; a iixed die carried by one of said members; a cylinder on the other member; a plunger in the cylinder; a movable die on the plunger in line with the fixed die; means at the ends of said members controlling the movement of the plunger; two cylinders connected to the frame; a counterbalancing accumulator connected to one of said cylinders for counterbalancing the frame; air pipes connected to the other cylinder; and means at the ends of one of the members of the frame for controlling the air to adjust the iixed die in respect to the work.

6. The combination in a riveting machine, of a frame having upper and lower members spaced apart to form a horizontal throat; a riveting die at the outer end of each member; a carriage for the work; means Jfor moving the carriage longitudinally; means on the carriage for moving the work laterally in respect to the riveting dies; means for locating the dies in respect to the work; and control mechanism for the several means located on one of the members of the frame at a point near the riveting dies.

The combination in a riveting machine, of a frame having upper and lower members spaced apart to form a throat; riveting dies carried by said members; longitudinal rails; a carriage mounted on said rails; means for moving the carriage; side beams on the carriage; screws for raising and lowering the beams; a longitudinal shaft on each beam; means for rotating the shafts; rollers on the shaft for supporting the work;

and control mechanism at the riveting dies for the carriage, operating mechanism, and the mechanism for rotating the shafts.

8. The combination in a riveting machine, of a frame having upper and lower members spaced apart to form a horizontal throat; a riveting die on the end o each member; means for moving the lower die towards and from the upper die; an operators station at the end of one of the members; a carriage for the work; means for moving the carriage longitudinally; means, on the carriage; for moving the work laterally; and devices mounted on the upper member of the frame near its end for controlling the movement of the carriage and the work and for controlling the riveting dies.

9. The combination in a riveting machine, of a pivoted frame having upper and lower members spaced apart to form a throat; a ixed die carried by the upper member; a cylinder carried by the lower member; a plunger in said cylinder; a die carried by the plunger; an operators station at the end of the upper member; means on the frame at the station, for controlling the movement of the lower die; means, also on the frame at the station, for turning the frame on its pivot; a carriage for thework; means for moving the carriage longitudinally; means for moving the work laterally on the carriage; and control mechanism on the upper frame near the operators station for the carriage and for the means for rotating the work.

l0. The combination in a riveting machine, of a pivoted frame havingfupper and lower members spaced apart to form a horizontal throat for the work; means for balancing the frame; means Jfor adjusting the frame to the Work; riveting dies at the end of the upper and lower members of the frame; foot levers on the frame at the riveting dies for controlling the movement of one of the riveting dies and the frame adjusting means; alongitudinally movable carriage; longitudinal shafts on the carriage for supporting the work; means for rotating the shafts; and control hand levers on the frame near the dies for controlling the movement of the carriage and the work supporting shafts.

GEORGE L. SKOLFIELD, JR; 

